Voetball...Bolspiel...Futebol...Football is music, is life.

Owen: Magpie

So much for my career in football punditry...

Michael Owen, here, is visibly humbled by the 25,000 Newcastle fans who showed up to greet himwarmly at St. James Park. The reception must feel to him he's made a good decision and will help the soreness of not returning to don a red shirt.

In the signing photos, you can see the satisfaction on the faces of Freddy Shepherd and Graeme Souness -- both are unemotive types -- who rightly feel their work rewarded. They have reeled in a big one.

Anybody who cares about quality football will relish the chemistry possible at Newcastle who have Carr, Parker, and now Owen (but lose Jermaine Jenas) alongside Alan Shearer as a possible long-term mentor. It will be interesting how Owen and Shearer play together, if ever they do; and how Souness adapts the team's style to factor Owen's abilities in.